Winter Olympics: Super Sunday Of Hockey

The serious business of the Olympic Hockey Tournament begins today. Oh sure, we’ve had five days of solid, engaging action. But today feels different, doesn’t it? It’s the final day of round robin competition. And for the first time this Olympiad, the big boys play each other. It’s time for the real hockey to begin. This entire tournament is the pinnacle of the sport of hockey and today it hits a new peak. It’s the closest hockey will get to having a  Super Bowl Sunday. Not just one match, but three today. And, it has a made for TV feel to it as well. All three are rematches from a previous Gold Medal game in the NHL-in-the-Olympics Era. All three are bigtime rivalries. Scandanavian bragging rights? Check. Eastern European hard feelings? Check. North American rivalry? Check. All three are in play today, not to mention critical seeding placement and byes as we head into the knockout rounds beginning Tuesday afternoon.

Some of the most important stakes are on the line in the first game of the day between Russia and Czechoslovakia. And, its a game anxious Team Slovakia fans are keeping an eye on. A Czech win today over the Russians, not only will give the Czechs one of the top three seeds, but it will also drop the Russians into 7th place and put the Slovaks into the top-6 of the draw. There are dozens of dizzying combinations the final bracket may look like after today’s games in the books, but I think the important scenarios to track today are the ones that have Russia losing today and the Canada subsequently doing enough today to claim the #2 seed. One such situation is a Canada win in regulation. Combine that with the Czechs win and the Finland/Sweden result, as long as one of those results end  in regulation with the other winning in OT. The team winning in regulation would be the top seed, but Canada would beat out either team winning in OT for the #2 seed becuase they would have the same amount of points, but the Habs would have a better goal differential. Why are those outcomes compelling? Because it leaves Canada as the #2 seed and Russia as the #7 seed. They would be destined for a gold medal game in the quaterfinals. These are the two favorites in this field. The hockey world cant wait to stop and watch  Crosby and Ovechkin add another chapter to their rivalry on the International, Olympic stage. A gold medal is supposed to be on line, not a spot in the semifinals. If the bracket falls like that, this tournament, already anybody’s game, becomes even more up for grabs. This becoming the future bracket is a storyline I’m following today.

It all becomes irrelevant if Russia wins this first game in regulation or in overtime against the Czechs. Some have suggested some lineup shuffling for Team Russia as a lack of cohesion so far has been the best defense againstthe likes of  Evgeny Malkin. Their coach has said they’ve simply lacked passion during the round robin game. It should not be too hard to raise their ire with Eastern European rivals across the ice from them. The Czechs have been great in their first two games. And, Jaromir Jagr, playing in Russia the last two years, has been fun to watch again. He looks rejuvenated. The winner today will likely be  no worse than a third seed and, thus, receive somewhat of an earlier draw. At least Russia would avoid Canada in the quarterfinals, right? Not so fast my friend, if Canada loses in regulation they might fall as far as the sixth seed. Like we said, there are dozens of bracket possibilites. Today, I’m paying attention to the ones that would create a Russia/Canada, Crosby/Ovechkin fest in the quarterfinals, two rounds before most of the betting public assumed it would happen.

Of course, here in North America, the GAME OF THE DAY, is USA vs Canada and the Americans are the decided enemy and underdog heading into the contest. It’s been over 50 years since the Americans beat the Canadiens in an Olympic hockey game.Despite that hammer and nail-like relationship, this is a legit rivalry. If they break that streak today, Team USA could very well be the top seed heading into the knockout round and wouldnt have to face any of the NHL-laden big boy teams until the medal round. Considering in two of the three Olympics with the NHL, Team USA hasnt even made it as far as the semifinals, earning the top seed and the easiest draw to get to the Final Four would be quite a coup. With a win today in regulation, Team USA, barring a major upset on Wednesday, would pretty much do no worse than playing for a medal, something they’ve only done in 4 different Olympics–at least play for a medal–since World War II.  Of course, they are big underdogs today. Canada is favored by 1.5 goals, the biggest spread oddsmakers have on the three games today. The Americans had a breakthrough a month ago in International Hockey by beating Team Canada in the junior worlds. They did it by being faster than the Canadiens. They’ve constructed an Olympic team based on speed and we’ll find out tonight if they can handle the powerful oak trees on the Canadien blue line.To be succesful, they need their centers to step up and take over the game. More than the other two games, this one will feature teammate vs teammate on several different occassions. Team USA has looked better than Canada during the first two games. But it could provide a wake up call for Canada and bad news for Team USA today.

I dont have much to say about the nightcap, Sweden vs Finland. I bet most people have forgotten that these are the teams that played for the Gold Medal in Torino in 2006. And, as neighboring countries, they have a little bit a rivalry, that borders on obsessive hatred. Seriously, Finland? Writing stories in 2008 about Sweden not winning medals in Beijing? Here’s a thought, try winning your own medals first. Anyway, this game brings Peter Forsberg back into the game and these Olympics might be the last go around for one of the game’s greatest players the last 20 years. If Finland wins, they have a strong chance at the top seed. Sweden, on the other hand, has the weakest goal differential of all the expected top six clubs.

Do you want predictions? Ok, here you go: Czechoslovakia +1, USA +1.5 and Finland pick ‘em. Book It, why not. And, for sure, book this day as a fun because it’s such a great day of hockey.

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